by Jamie Harris
The Paw Paw Lady Pirates volleyball team brought home two commanding victories Tuesday evening, October 7, in a Tri-Match against Union and Tygarts Valley, showcasing their growing strength and team chemistry.
In the first match, the Lady Pirates defeated Union in straight sets, 25-15 and 25-13. They followed up with an even more dominant performance against Tygarts Valley, winning 25-7 and 25-5.
Sophia Ross led the charge with a stellar performance at the service line, racking up 28 service points and 12 aces across both matches. Kyndal Corbett added 12 points and 3 kills, while Abby Williams contributed 12 points and 4 aces. Alexis Kidwell chipped in with 8 points, 5 aces and 2 kills and Shayla Tanouye added 4 points, 2 aces and a team-high 6 kills.
The momentum carried the Lady Pirates into a challenging Tri-Match on Saturday, October 11, in Ritchie County, where they faced two tough opponents: the Ritchie County Rebels and St. Mary’s.
Despite their best efforts, the Lady Pirates fell in both matches, dropping sets 19-25 and 18-25 to Ritchie County, and 9-25 and 11-25 to St. Mary’s.
Shayla Tanouye continued to shine with 7 points, 4 kills and a block. Kyndal Corbett added 7 points and an ace, while Sophia Ross tallied 6 points and an ace.
Head Coach Holly Palmer praised her team’s resilience, saying,
“The girls faced some tough competition at Ritchie County. I am really proud of the girls for not backing down. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to challenge your athletes. Records are just numbers, the big picture is October 30th, when Regionals begin and you have to put everything you have on the court.”
With Regionals on the horizon, the Lady Pirates are focused and determined to keep improving. Their recent performances show a team that’s building momentum and learning valuable lessons along the way.